Bloody Sunday

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DanTheMan 2 Tragedy in its rawest form: bloody chaos. Convincingly capturing the chaotic, confusing, fast-paced nature of life in crisis, Bloody Sunday's immediacy is overwhelming, its tension palpable, and the brutality immediate. Time has offered the Troubles perspective, investigation, and pop-culture outlets, but Paul Greengrass's film speaks to how reason meant absolutely nothing when rage reigned on either side of the line; a triumph in anguish. I've been more than vocal about my distaste for Greengrass's overreliance on shaky cam in the past; thankfully, it's very toned down here to the point where I could actually see what on earth was going on, although the film jumps so frequently from scene to scene that at times it is distracting. Equally, the film sacrifices a lot of character, although James Nesbitt's lead performance is one to be marvelled at, in creating a chilling impressionistic stylisation, focusing on the leadership aspect more than the civilian in stark contrast to that of McGovern's film. Despite those quibbles, Bloody Sunday places you right in the centre of events in a multi-sensual, horrific "you are there" virtual reality of social protest that grabs you and never lets go, exuding a universality that may apply to any conflict, especially any that provokes people to become killing machines in the name of nationalism, a gripping experience to the point of downright sickening. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/07/25 Full Review Biker B An absolutely brilliant film that shows the brutality and hatred the Irish have received from the British and these events ultimately led to the prosecution of several British soldiers. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/17/25 Full Review Alec B Fascinating mostly on a technical level as the recreation of the Bloody Sunday massacre is impeccably staged. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/10/24 Full Review nilufer e It was good to learn about historic facts about the incident and even though it was touching I didn't enjoy it as much as I would like. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 05/28/23 Full Review Audience Member Overall, this is a heartbreaking and devastating film. Serving as a dramatic rendition of the real tragedy, Director Paul Greengrass gives us plenty to admire here. His realistic style from start to finish makes it feel as if viewers are watching this whole thing from the sidelines. At times, elements such as a shaky camera give a nice touch and many moments on-screen will feel raw and tense. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/11/23 Full Review dave s January 30, 1972 was a pivotal moment in The Troubles of Northern Ireland when British soldiers opened fire on citizens in what started as a peaceful civil rights protest in Derry, killing thirteen and wounding fourteen. Gritty and grainy throughout, director Paul Greengrass uses a handheld camera to effectively capture the tumult and horror of the event, a defining moment in the decades long conflict between British and Irish loyalists. Other than Parliamentarian Ivan Cooper (James Nesbitt), the organizer of the march, there aren't a lot of characters (and, as a result, not a lot of character development) to follow, allowing the audience to focus on the details of the conflict between the protesters and the police. While Bloody Sunday may not be totally objective in its depiction of events, one is forced to wonder if there actually are two valid sides to this story of injustice and oppression. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Bloody Sunday

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